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Abstract:

Disclosed is an optical projection system for projecting an enlarged
image on a projection surface. The optical projection system includes an
image forming element, a coaxial optical system and a concave mirror. The
coaxial optical system and the concave mirror are arranged in this order
on an optical path from the image forming element to the projection
surface. The coaxial optical system includes lens groups and an aperture
stop that share an optical axis. The lens groups include a first lens
group and other lens groups.
The first lens group has negative refractive power and independently
moves in an optical axis direction for adjusting the focus of the optical
projection system. The aperture stop is arranged at a position closer to
the image forming element than the first lens group that is arranged
closest to the concave mirror among the lens groups having the negative
refractive power.

Claims:

1. An optical projection system for projecting an enlarged image on a
projection surface, the optical projection system, comprising: an image
forming element configured to form an image to be enlarged by the optical
projection system; and a coaxial optical system and a concave mirror
arranged in this order on an optical path from the image forming element
to the projection surface, the coaxial optical system including a
plurality of lens groups and an aperture stop that share an optical axis,
wherein the lens groups include a first lens group and other lens groups,
the first lens group having negative refractive power and configured to
independently move in an optical axis direction for adjusting a focus of
the optical projection system, wherein the aperture stop is arranged at a
position closer to the image forming element than the first lens group
having the negative refractive power, the first lens group being arranged
closest to the concave mirror among the lens groups having the negative
refractive power, wherein if the other lens groups have negative
refractive power, the focus is adjusted by moving the first lens group in
a predetermined direction of the optical axis direction while moving the
other lens groups in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction
of the optical axis direction, wherein if the other lens groups have
positive refractive power, the focus is adjusted by moving the first lens
group in the predetermined direction of the optical axis direction while
moving the other lens groups in a direction the same as the predetermined
direction of the optical axis direction, and wherein if the other lens
groups include a second lens group having positive refractive power and a
third lens group having negative refractive power, the focus is adjusted
by moving the first lens group in the predetermined direction of the
optical axis direction while moving the second lens group in a direction
the same as the predetermined direction of the optical axis direction and
the third lens group in a direction opposite to the predetermined
direction of the optical axis direction.

2. The optical projection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first
lens group has the strongest negative refractive power among the lens
groups having the negative refractive power.

3. The optical projection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
concave mirror is a free-form surface mirror, and wherein when a
horizontal direction of the projection surface is defined as an X-axis
direction and a vertical direction of the projection surface is defined
as a Y-axis direction, curvature of the concave mirror in the X-axis
direction increases as values of coordinates in the Y-axis direction
increase from an end of the concave mirror that resides in a position
closest from the optical axis of the coaxial optical system toward an end
of the concave mirror that resides in a position farthest from the
optical axis of the coaxial optical system.

4. The optical projection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
aperture stop is arranged closest to the image forming element in the
coaxial optical system.

5. The optical projection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
optical axis of the coaxial optical system and a center of the image
forming element are eccentrically located in a vertical direction of the
projection surface.

6. The optical projection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lens
group having the strongest negative refractive power among the lens
groups having the negative refractive power is formed of a glass lens,
and the plurality of the lens groups further includes a plastic lens
having positive refractive power with an absolute value smaller than an
absolute value of the strongest negative refractive power.

7. The optical projection system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
concave mirror is fixed.

8. An image projector, comprising: the optical projection system as
claimed in claim 1, wherein the image forming element is configured to
form the image based on modulating signals, and the optical projection
system is configured to emit light from a light source to the image
forming element to enlarge the image formed by the image forming element
and project the enlarged image on the projection surface.

Description:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The disclosures generally relate to an optical projection system
configured to enlarge an image and project the enlarged image on a
projection surface, and an image projector including such an optical
projection system.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Liquid-crystal projectors are widely utilized as image projectors.
Recent liquid-crystal projectors generally implement a higher definition
of liquid crystal panels, higher luminance owing to improved efficiency
of light source lamps, and reduction in price. Further, smaller and
lightweight image projectors utilizing a digital micro-mirror device
(DMD) are widely utilized not only in an office environment or a school
environment but also at home. In particular, since recent front-type
projectors have improved portability, they are frequently utilized in
small conferences of several people.

[0005] In such image projectors, various focus-adjusting technologies have
been disclosed for adjusting the focus on the screen. Japanese Patent
Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2009-251457 (hereinafter referred
to as "Patent Document 1"), for example, discloses a focus adjusting
technology for an optical projection system. In this technology, the
focus is adjusted by moving lens groups that form an optical projection
system. In addition, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication
No. 2009-229738 (hereinafter referred to as "Patent Document 2"), for
example, discloses another focus adjusting technology for the optical
projection system. In this technology, the focus is adjusted by moving
focus lens groups in a lens system forming the optical projection system
and an aspherical mirror, independently.

[0006] However, the focus adjusting technology disclosed in Patent
Document 1 does not disclose directions in which respective lens groups
are moved. Accordingly, distortion occurring during the focus adjustment
may not be corrected by the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1.
Further, in the focus adjusting technology disclosed in Patent Document
2, the aspherical mirror is moved. However, it is undesirable to move the
aspherical mirror that performs distortion correction as a main function,
because moving the aspherical mirror may accumulate positional errors
between the aspherical mirror and other components. Accordingly,
distortion occurring during the focus adjustment may not be corrected by
the technology disclosed in Patent Document 2, similar to the technology
disclosed in Patent Document 1.

[0007] It is a general object of at least one embodiment of the present
invention to provide an optical projection system capable of correcting
distortion that occurs while the focus is adjusted and an image projector
including such an optical projection system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In one embodiment, there is provided an optical projection system
for projecting an enlarged image on a projection surface. The optical
projection system includes an image forming element configured to form an
image to be enlarged by the optical projection system, a coaxial optical
system and a concave mirror. The coaxial optical system and the concave
mirror are arranged in this order on an optical path from the image
forming element to the projection surface. The coaxial optical system
includes a plurality of lens groups and an aperture stop that share an
optical axis. The lens groups include a first lens group and other lens
groups, the first lens group having negative refractive power and
configured to independently move in an optical axis direction for
adjusting the focus of the optical projection system, and the aperture
stop is arranged at a position closer to the image forming element than
the first lens group having the negative refractive power, the first lens
group being arranged closest to the concave mirror among the lens groups
having the negative refractive power. In an optical projection system, if
the other lens groups have negative refractive power, the focus is
adjusted by moving the first lens group in a predetermined direction of
the optical axis direction while moving the other lens groups in a
direction opposite to the predetermined direction of the optical axis
direction. If the other lens groups have positive refractive power, the
focus is adjusted by moving the first lens group in the predetermined
direction of the optical axis direction while moving the other lens
groups in a direction the same as the predetermined direction of the
optical axis direction. If the other lens groups include a second lens
group having positive refractive power and a third lens group having
negative refractive power, the focus is adjusted by moving the first lens
group in the predetermined direction of the optical axis direction while
moving the second lens group in a direction the same as the predetermined
direction of the optical axis direction and the third lens group in a
direction opposite to the predetermined direction of the optical axis
direction.

[0009] Additional objects and advantages of the embodiments will be set
forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be
obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
invention. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general
description and the following detailed description are exemplary and
explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] Other objects and further features of embodiments will be apparent
from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings, in which:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an image
projector according to a first embodiment;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an optical path of
the optical projection system according to the first embodiment;

[0022]FIG. 12 is a diagram (part 1) illustrating focus adjustment in the
optical projection system according to the first embodiment;

[0023] FIG. 13 is a diagram (part 2) illustrating focus adjustment in the
optical projection system according to the first embodiment;

[0024]FIG. 14 is a diagram (part 3) illustrating focus adjustment in the
optical projection system according to the first embodiment;

[0025] FIG. 15 is a diagram (part 1) illustrating focus adjustment in an
optical projection system according to a second embodiment;

[0026] FIG. 16 is a diagram (part 2) illustrating focus adjustment in the
optical projection system according to the second embodiment;

[0027] FIG. 17 is a diagram (part 3) illustrating focus adjustment in the
optical projection system according to the second embodiment;

[0028] FIG. 18 is a diagram (part 1) illustrating focus adjustment in an
optical projection system according to a third embodiment;

[0029] FIG. 19 is a diagram (part 2) illustrating focus adjustment in the
optical projection system according to the third embodiment;

[0030] FIG. 20 is a diagram (part 3) illustrating focus adjustment in the
optical projection system according to the third embodiment; and

[0031] FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating modification of the focus
adjustment in the optical projection system according to the first
embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0032] Preferred embodiments are described below with reference to the
accompanying drawings. Note that in the drawings, same reference numerals
are assigned to identical components, and overlapped descriptions are
omitted. Note also that in the following embodiments, X (i.e., X-axis)
represents a longitudinal direction (a horizontal direction) of a screen,
Y (i.e., Y-axis) represents a short direction (a vertical direction) of
the screen, and Z (i.e., Z-axis) represents a normal direction.

First Embodiment

[0033]FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of an image
projector according to a first embodiment. As illustrated in FIG. 1, in
an image projector 10 according to the first embodiment, an optical
projection system 18 applies light of a light source 11 to an image
forming element 17 to enlarge an image formed by the image forming
element 17, and project the enlarged image onto a screen 90. Examples of
the light source 11 include a halogen lamp, a xenon lamp, a metal halide
lamp, an ultra-high pressure mercury lamp, an LED, and the like. Examples
of the image forming element 17 include the digital micro-mirror device
(DMD), a liquid crystal panel, and the like.

[0034] Hereinafter, the image projector 10 is specifically described.
Light emitted from the light source 11 is converged by a reflector 12 at
an entrance of an integrator rod 13. The integrator rod 13 may be a light
pipe formed by combining four mirrors in the shape of a tunnel. The light
converged at the entrance of the integrator rod 13 repeatedly reflects
off the mirrors inside the integrator rod 13 and uneven light intensity
becomes uniform at an exit of the integrator rod 13 as a result. The exit
of the integrator rod 13 may serve as a surface light source configured
to emit light having uniform light intensity. Accordingly, a light source
image of the surface light source may be formed on the image forming
element 17 via an illumination lens 14, a first mirror 15, and a second
mirror 16. Since the image forming element 17 is illuminated with light
in a uniform illumination distribution, an enlarged light source image of
the image of the image forming element 17 projected onto a screen 90 may
also have a uniform illumination distribution.

[0035] If the image forming element 17 is a DMD, the image forming element
17 includes numerous micro-mirrors, respective angles of which may be
changed in a range of -12 degrees to +12 degrees. For example, an angle
of illumination light directed toward the DMD may be set such that the
reflected light reflected off the micro-mirrors may enter the optical
projection system 18 when the angles of the micro-mirrors are -12
degrees, and the reflected light reflected off the micro-mirrors may not
be allowed to enter the optical projection system 18 when the angles of
the micro-mirrors are +12 degrees. With this configuration, a digital
image may be formed on the screen 90 by controlling inclination angles of
the micro-mirrors of the DMD.

[0036] Note that two or more image forming elements 17 may be prepared for
illumination light having passed through respective color filters (red,
green and blue) to the respective image forming elements 17, and light
synthesized by a color synthesis unit may be allowed to enter the optical
projection system 18. Accordingly, a color image may be projected onto
the screen 90.

[0037]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of an optical path of
the optical projection system 18 according to the first embodiment.
Referring to FIG. 2, the optical projection system 18 includes a coaxial
optical system 19 formed of a lens group and a concave mirror 20 serving
as a non-coaxial optical system that does not share optical paths with
the coaxial optical system 19. The optical projection system 18 may
include two or more concave mirrors. Note that "A" in FIG. 19 indicates
an optical axis of the coaxial optical system 19. In the optical
projection system 18, an intermediate image 17a of the image forming
element 17 is temporarily formed in the coaxial optical system 19, and
the intermediate image 17a is then enlarged by the concave mirror 20. The
enlarged image is projected onto the screen 90 in this manner. Note that
a specific configuration of the coaxial optical system 19 is described
later.

[0038] The concave mirror 20 is described further in detail. In order to
project an image on the screen 90 at close range, it may be necessary to
form the image at a position above the image projector for facilitating
the viewability of the projected image. For example, the image forming
element 17 is arranged not on an optical axis A of the coaxial optical
system 19 but is eccentrically arranged (i.e., arranged off the optical
axis A of the coaxial optical system 19) as illustrated in FIG. 3. With
this arrangement, the coaxial optical system 19 may acquire a wider
performance assurance range (i.e., serve as wide-angle lens), which may
maintain image quality. However, the wide-angle lens of the coaxial
optical system 19 may have limitations. Hence, in order to project the
image on the screen 90 at an extremely closer range utilizing the coaxial
optical system 19, it may be necessary to increase the optical path by
incorporates a system illustrated in FIG. 3. However, in this system, it
may be difficult to attach a mirror to a portable image projector, which
is generally utilized in an ordinary conference room. Even if the mirror
is attached to the portable image projector, the attached mirror may need
to be a larger sized one. Accordingly, larger space and higher cost may
be required for attaching the mirror to the portable image projector.
Thus, it may not be desirable to utilize the system illustrated in FIG.
3.

[0039] There is a system differing from the system illustrated in FIG. 3,
in which an image is obliquely projected by utilizing a concave mirror.
FIG. 4 illustrates an example of an oblique projection system. As
illustrated in FIG. 4, the image may be projected at closer range by
arranging the image forming element 17 or the coaxial optical system 19
obliquely to the screen 90 in the oblique projection system. With this
oblique projection system, the image may be projected at extremely close
range; however, the projected image may be distorted in a trapezoidal
shape. Thus, it may not be desirable to utilize the system illustrated in
FIG. 4.

[0040] In view of the disadvantages of the systems illustrated in FIGS. 3
and 4, the optical projection system 18 according to the first embodiment
effectively corrects such a trapezoidally-distorted image by arranging
the optical system and by utilizing a free-form surface mirror as the
concave mirror 20 as illustrated in FIG. 2. Note that FIG. 5 illustrates
an example of the free-form surface mirror. In the free-form surface
mirror, the curvature in an X-axis direction changes according to values
of coordinates in a Y-axis direction. More specifically, if the
horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the screen 90 are
respectively defined as the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction,
curvature of the concave mirror 20 in an X-axis direction may increase as
the values of the coordinates increase in the Y-axis direction from the
end of the concave mirror 20, which resides in a position closest from
the optical axis A of the coaxial optical system 19, and a position
farthest from the optical axis A of the coaxial optical system 19.

[0041] Note that in this embodiment, the concave mirror 20 is fixed and
therefore not moved when the focus is adjusted. If the concave mirror 20
that is large and serves a most important function is moved during focus
adjustment, a positional error in relation to the coaxial optical system
19 may be increased, which may further degrade the distortion.

[0042] The function of the optical projection system 18 is to form a real
image of the image forming element 17 onto the screen 90. The desired
size of the image to be displayed on the screen 90 or a desired distance
from the image projector 10 to the screen 90 may vary among different
users of the image projector 10. In order to form the real image of the
image forming element 17 onto the screen 90, the focus of the optical
projection system 18 may need to be adjusted. In an optical projection
system of an ordinary projector (i.e., coaxial optical system having
rotational symmetry), there may be used an entire optical projection
system in which the focus is adjusted by moving an entire optical
projection system, or a focus adjusting system in which the focus is
adjusted by moving a lense in the optical projection system, or one of
the lens groups each formed of a set of lenses in the optical projection
system.

[0043] In the optical projection system 18 according to the first
embodiment, it is most desirable to employ a focus adjusting system in
which the focus is adjusted by fixing one of the lenses (or one of the
lens groups) closest to the image forming element 17 and moving the
remaining two lenses (or two lens groups) along the optical axis
direction. The reason that the aforementioned focus adjusting system, in
which the focus is adjusted by moving the remaining two lenses (or two
lens groups) along the optical axis direction while one of the lenses (or
one of the lens groups) closest to the image forming element 17 is fixed,
is most desirable is as follows. Image distortion that has occurred when
the image is projected on the screen 90 at close range is mainly
corrected by the concave mirror 20 that is a non-coaxial optical system.
Accordingly, the image distortion may not sufficiently be corrected by
simply moving the entire optical projection system or by simply moving
one of the lenses in the optical projection system or one of the lens
groups in the optical projection system. Further, the brightness may not
be changed with screen sizes by fixing one of the lens groups arranged
closest to the image forming element 17.

[0044] Hereafter, the optical projection system 18 is specifically
described. In a case of the oblique projection illustrated in FIG. 4, the
rectangular image forming element 17 is displayed distorted as a
trapezoidal shape having an upper side longer than a lower side on an
image 90a as illustrated in FIG. 6. By contrast, in the optical
projection system 18 illustrated in FIG. 7, the intermediate image 17a
may be largely distorted, which is so-called "pincushion distortion" that
displays the lower side of the intermediate image 17a longer than the
upper side of the intermediate image 17a at the upper part of the screen
90, and such image distortion may be adjusted by the concave mirror 20 to
form the distorted image in a rectangular shape.

[0045] However, if the focus is adjusted by moving the screen 90 in a
Z-axis direction and moving the entire coaxial optical system 19 in the
Z-axis direction so as to display a screen smaller than the screen 90 of
FIG. 2, as illustrated in FIG. 8, there may be little change in the
distortion of the intermediate image 17a. As a result, the image 90a on
the screen 90 is distorted in a trapezoidal shape (trapezoidal
distortion) having an upper side shorter than a lower side illustrated in
FIG. 9.

[0046] The trapezoidal distortion is described further in detail. FIG. 10
is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the concave mirror and the
screen of FIG. 2. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional diagram illustrating the
concave mirror and the screen of FIG. 8. As illustrated in FIGS. 10 and
11, in the optical projection system 18 utilizing the concave mirror 20,
an angle of light A1 directing towards an upper part of the screen 90 in
the Y-axis direction differs from an angle of light A2 directing towards
a lower part of the screen 90 in the Y-axis direction in an XZ cross
section. Accordingly, if the screen 90 is moved to a position illustrated
in FIG. 8, the formed image position of an upper part of the screen 90
differs from the image formed position of a lower part of the screen 90
in the X-axis direction. Accordingly, the trapezoidal distortion having
an upper side shorter than a lower side may be observed as illustrated by
the image 90a in FIG. 9.

[0047] In order to overcome such trapezoidal distortion, the coaxial
optical system 19 of the optical projection system 18 according to this
embodiment includes a configuration illustrated in FIG. 12. That is, the
coaxial optical system 19 in this embodiment includes an aperture stop
19a, lens groups 19b, 19c, 19d and 19e that are arranged in this order
from the image forming element 17 side. Note that each of the above lens
groups may be formed of one or more lenses.

[0048] In the coaxial optical system 19, the lens group 19b includes
positive refractive power. The lens group 19c includes negative
refractive power. The lens group 19d includes negative refractive power.
The lens group 19e includes positive refractive power.

[0049] The lens groups 19b and 19e are fixed whereas the lens groups 19c
and 19d are configured to move independently from each other and
reciprocally move in the Z-axis direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis
direction). That is, the coaxial optical system 19 employs a floating
focus adjusting system, in which the focus is adjusted by moving the
plural lens groups (lens groups 19c and 19d) in amounts differing from
each other in the Z-axis direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis
direction).

[0050] Note that the lens group 19c is one of the lens groups having
negative refractive power and configured to reciprocally move in the
Z-axis direction. Of the negative refractive power groups, the lens group
19c is arranged closest to the aperture stop 19a. The lens group 19d is
one of the lens groups having negative refractive power and configured to
reciprocally move in the Z-axis direction. Of the negative refractive
power groups, the lens group 19d is arranged closest to the concave
mirror 20.

[0051] The aperture stop 19a is arranged at a position closer to the image
forming element 17 than the lens group 19d that is arranged closest to
the concave mirror 20 among the lens groups that have negative refractive
power and are configured to reciprocally move in the Z-axis direction.
Note that it is preferable to arrange the aperture stop 19a at a position
closer to the image forming element 17 as illustrated in FIG. 12, so as
to generate a large amount of pincushion distortion.

[0052] If the screen 90 is moved from a position illustrated in FIG. 12
closer to the concave mirror 20 as illustrated in FIG. 13 so as to
implement a smaller screen sized projection, and the focus is adjusted at
the same time, the lens groups 19c and 19d are moved in the Z-axis
direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis direction) as illustrated in FIG.
14. More specifically, the lens group 19c is moved in the Z-axis
direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis direction) such that the lens group
19c moves away from the aperture stop 19a, and the lens group 19d is
moved reciprocally in the Z-axis direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis
direction) such that the lens group 19d moves closer to the aperture stop
19a.

[0053] The lens group 19d has the strongest negative refractive power
specifically, such that the lens group 19d may be able to generate a
larger amount of pincushion distortion. Since the amount of distortion in
the intermediate image 17a may be lowered by moving the lens group 19d
closer to the aperture stop 19a, the trapezoidal distortion such as the
image 90a illustrated in FIG. 9 may be suppressed. Note that if the
screen 90 is moved away from the concave mirror 20 so as to implement a
larger screen sized projection, and the focus is adjusted at the same
time, contrary to the case in FIG. 14, the lens group 19c may be moved in
the Z-axis direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis direction) such that the
lens group 19c moves closer to the aperture stop 19a, and the lens group
19d may be moved in the Z-axis direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis
direction) such that the lens group 19d moves away from the aperture stop
19a.

[0054] Thus, in the first embodiment, the coaxial optical system 19
employs a floating focus adjusting system, in which the focus is adjusted
by moving the plural lens groups within the coaxial optical system 19 in
amounts differing from each other in the Z-axis direction (i.e., the
optical "A" axis direction). When the screen 90 is moved closer to the
concave mirror 20 side so as to implement a smaller screen sized
projection, and the focus is adjusted at the same time, the lens group
19c which is arranged closest to the aperture stop 19a among the lens
groups that have negative refractive power is moved in the Z-axis
direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis direction), such that the lens
group 19c moves away from the aperture stop 19a, and the lens group 19d
which is arranged closest to the concave mirror 20 among the lens groups
that have negative refractive power is moved reciprocally in the Z-axis
direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis direction), such that the lens
group 19d moves closer to the aperture stop 19a. With this configuration,
the pincushion distortion of the intermediate image 17a may be
suppressed, and the trapezoidal image distortion of the image on the
screen 90 may be suppressed.

[0055] Further, when the screen 90 is moved away from the concave mirror
20 so as to implement a larger screen sized projection, and the focus is
adjusted at the same time, contrary to the above case, the lens group 19c
maybe moved reciprocally in the Z-axis direction (i.e., the optical "A"
axis direction) such that the lens group 19c moves closer to the aperture
stop 19a, and the lens group 19d may be moved in the Z-axis direction
(i.e., the optical "A" axis direction) such that the lens group 19d moves
away from the aperture stop 19a. With this configuration, a large amount
of pincushion distortion of the intermediate image 17a may be generated,
and the trapezoidal image distortion of the image on the screen 90 may be
suppressed.

[0056] Note that in order to adjust a large amount of pincushion
distortion of the image, it may be effective to move the lens group 19d
in the Z-axis direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis direction) such that
the lens group 19d moves closer to the aperture stop 19a. The image
distortion may be effectively corrected by moving the lens group having
positive refractive power away from the aperture stop 19a. However, if
the lens group having positive refractive power is arranged closer to the
concave mirror 20, a large amount of pincushion distortion may be
generated in the intermediate image 19a, or increasing the lateral
magnification of the intermediate image 17a may become difficult. Thus,
it may be undesirable to move the lens group having positive refractive
power away from the aperture stop 19a.

[0057] Further, the distortion may be converged by significantly moving
the lens group 19d, and the focal shift caused by excessive amount of
movement as a driving focus may be corrected by moving the lens group 19c
configured to generate less amount of distortion in a direction opposite
to the direction in which the lens group 19d is moved. That is, it may be
possible to significantly move the lens group 19d by arranging the lens
group 19c configured to generate less amount of distortion.

Second Embodiment

[0058] In a second embodiment, a coaxial optical system 29 of the optical
projection system 18 includes a configuration illustrated in FIG. 15.
That is, the coaxial optical system 29 in this embodiment includes an
aperture stop 29a, lens groups 29b, 29c, 29d, 29e and 29f that are
arranged in this order from the image forming element 17 side. Note that
illustration of components identical to those illustrated in the first
embodiment may be omitted from the second embodiment.

[0059] In the coaxial optical system 29, the lens group 29b includes
positive refractive power. The lens group 29c includes negative
refractive power. The lens group 29d includes positive refractive power.
The lens group 29e includes negative refractive power. The lens group 29f
includes positive refractive power.

[0060] The lens groups 29b and 29f are fixed whereas the lens groups 29c,
29d and 29e are configured to move independently from one another and
reciprocally move in the Z-axis direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis
direction). That is, the coaxial optical system 29 employs a floating
focus adjusting system, in which the focus is adjusted by moving the
plural lens groups (lens groups 29c, 29d and 29e) in amounts differing
from one another in the Z-axis direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis
direction).

[0061] Note that the lens group 29c is one of the lens groups having
negative refractive power and configured to reciprocally move in the
Z-axis direction, which is arranged closest to the aperture stop 29a. The
lens group 29b is one of the lens groups having positive refractive power
and configured to reciprocally move in the Z-axis direction, which is
arranged closest to the aperture stop 29a. The lens group 29e is one of
the lens groups having negative refractive power and configured to
reciprocally move in the Z-axis direction, which is arranged closest to
the concave mirror 20.

[0062] The aperture stop 29a is arranged at a position closer to the image
forming element 17 than the lens group 29e that is arranged closest to
the concave mirror 20 among the lens groups that have negative refractive
power and are configured to reciprocally move in the Z-axis direction.
Note that it is preferable to arrange the aperture stop 29a at a position
closer to the image forming element 17 as illustrated in FIG. 15, so as
to generate a large amount of pincushion distortion.

[0063] If the screen 90 is moved from a position illustrated in FIG. 15
closer to the concave mirror 20 side as illustrated in FIG. 16 so as to
implement a smaller screen sized projection, and the focus is adjusted at
the same time, the lens groups 29c, 29d and 29e are moved in the Z-axis
direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis direction) as illustrated in FIG.
17. More specifically, the lens group 29c is moved in the Z-axis
direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis direction) such that the lens group
29c moves away from the aperture stop 29a, the lens group 29d is moved in
the Z-axis direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis direction) such that the
lens group 29d moves closer to the aperture stop 29a, and the lens group
29e is moved in the Z-axis direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis
direction) such that the lens group 29e moves closer to the aperture stop
29a.

[0064] The lens group 29e has the strongest negative refractive power
specifically such that the lens group 29e may be able to generate a
larger amount of pincushion distortion. Since the amount of distortion in
the intermediate image 17a may be lowered by moving the lens group 29e,
capable of generating a large amount of pincushion distortion closer to
the aperture stop 29a, the trapezoidal distortion such as the image 90a
illustrated in FIG. 9 may be suppressed. Note that if the screen 90 is
moved away from the concave mirror 20 so as to implement a larger screen
sized projection, and the focus is adjusted at the same time, contrary to
the case in FIG. 17, the lens group 29c may be moved in the Z-axis
direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis direction) such that the lens group
29c moves closer to the aperture stop 29a, the lens group 29d may be
moved in the Z-axis direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis direction) such
that the lens group 29d moves away from the aperture stop 29a, and the
lens group 29e may be moved in the Z-axis direction (i.e., the optical
"A" axis direction) such that the lens group 29e moves away from the
aperture stop 29a.

[0065] Thus, in the second embodiment, the coaxial optical system 29
employs a floating focus adjusting system, in which the focus is adjusted
by moving the plural lens groups within the coaxial optical system 29 in
amounts differing from one another in the Z-axis direction (i.e., the
optical "A" axis direction). When the screen 90 is moved closer to the
concave mirror 20 side so as to implement a smaller screen sized
projection, and the focus is adjusted at the same time, the lens group
29c that is arranged closest to the aperture stop 29a among the lens
groups that have negative refractive power is moved reciprocally in the
Z-axis direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis direction), such that the
lens group 29c moves away from the aperture stop 29a, the lens group 29d
that is arranged closest to the aperture stop 29a among the lens groups
that have positive refractive power is moved reciprocally in the Z-axis
direction (i.e. , the optical "A" axis direction), such that the lens
group 29d moves closer to the aperture stop 29a, and the lens group 29e
that is arranged closest to the concave mirror 20 among the lens groups
that have negative refractive power and are configured to reciprocally
move is moved in the Z-axis direction (i.e. , the optical "A" axis
direction), such that the lens group 29e moves closer to the aperture
stop 29a. With this configuration, the pincushion distortion of the
intermediate image 17a may be suppressed, and the trapezoidal image
distortion of the image on the screen 90 may be suppressed.

[0066] Further, when the screen 90 is moved away from the concave mirror
20 so as to implement a larger screen sized projection, and the focus is
adjusted at the same time, contrary to the above case, the lens group 29c
may be moved in the Z-axis direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis
direction) such that the lens group 29c moves closer to the aperture stop
29a, the lens group 29d may be moved reciprocally in the Z-axis direction
(i.e., the optical "A" axis direction) such that the lens group 29d moves
away from the aperture stop 29a, and the lens group 29e may be moved
reciprocally in the Z-axis direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis
direction) such that the lens group 29e moves away from the aperture stop
29a. With this configuration, a large amount of pincushion distortion of
the intermediate image 17a may be generated, and the trapezoidal image
distortion of the image on the screen 90 may be suppressed.

[0067] Further, the distortion may be converged by significantly moving
the lens group 29e, and the focal shift caused by excessive movement as a
driving focus may be corrected by moving the lens group 29c configured to
generate less amount of distortion in a direction opposite to the
direction in which the lens group 29e is moved, while moving the lens
group 29d configured to generate less amount of distortion in the same
direction as the direction in which the lens group 29e is moved. That is,
it may be possible to significantly move the lens group 29e by arranging
the lens groups 29c and 29d configured to generate less amount of
distortion.

[0068] Note that if an extremely large distortion is generated by
increasing negative refractive power of the lens group 29e or by
significantly moving the lens group 29e, a significant amount of the
focus may need to be adjusted by utilizing other lens groups. In this
case, the focus adjustment may be implemented without generating
excessive distortion by moving the lens group 29c having weak negative
refractive power and the lens group 29d having weak positive refractive
power in mutually opposite directions.

Third Embodiment

[0069] In a third embodiment, a coaxial optical system 39 of the optical
projection system 18 includes a configuration illustrated in FIG. 18.
That is, the coaxial optical system 39 in this embodiment includes an
aperture stop 39a, lens groups 39b, 39c and 39d that are arranged in this
order from the image forming element 17 side. Note that illustration of
components identical to those illustrated in the first or the second
embodiment may be omitted from the third embodiment.

[0070] In the coaxial optical system 39, the lens group 39b includes
positive refractive power. The lens group 39c includes positive
refractive power. The lens group 39d includes negative refractive power.

[0071] The lens group 39b is fixed whereas the lens groups 39c and 39d are
configured to move independently from each other and reciprocally move in
the Z-axis direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis direction). That is, the
coaxial optical system 39 employs a floating focus adjusting system, in
which the focus is adjusted by moving the plural lens groups (lens groups
39c and 39d) in amounts differing from each other in the Z-axis direction
(i.e., the optical "A" axis direction).

[0072] Note that the lens group 39c is one of the lens groups having
positive refractive power and configured to reciprocally move in the
Z-axis direction, which is arranged closest to the aperture stop 39a. The
lens group 39d is one of the lens groups having negative refractive power
and configured to reciprocally move in the Z-axis direction, which is
arranged closest to the concave mirror 20.

[0073] The aperture stop 39a is arranged at a position closer to the image
forming element 17 than the lens group 39d that is arranged closest to
the concave mirror 20 among the lens groups that have negative refractive
power and are configured to reciprocally move in the Z-axis direction.
Note that it is preferable to arrange the aperture stop 39a at a position
closer to the image forming element 17 as illustrated in FIG. 18, so as
to generate a large amount of pincushion distortion.

[0074] If the screen 90 is moved from a position illustrated in FIG. 18
closer to the concave mirror 20 side as illustrated in FIG. 19 so as to
implement a smaller screen sized projection, and the focus is adjusted at
the same time, the lens groups 39c and 39d are moved in the Z-axis
direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis direction) as illustrated in FIG.
20.

[0075] The lens group 39d has the strongest negative refractive power
specifically such that the lens group 39d may be able to generate a
larger amount of pincushion distortion. Since the amount of distortion in
the intermediate image 17a may be reduced by moving the lens group 39d
capable of generating a large amount of pincushion distortion closer to
the aperture stop 39a, the trapezoidal distortion such as the image 90a
illustrated in FIG. 9 may be suppressed. Note that if the screen 90 is
moved away from the concave mirror 20 so as to implement a larger screen
sized projection, and the focus is adjusted at the same time, contrary to
the case in FIG. 20, the lens groups 39c and 39d may be moved in the
Z-axis direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis direction) such that the
lens groups 39c and 39d move away from the aperture stop 39a.

[0076] Thus, in the third embodiment, the coaxial optical system 39
employs a floating focus adjusting system, in which the focus is adjusted
by moving the plural lens groups within the coaxial optical system 39 in
amounts differing from each other in the Z-axis direction (i.e., the
optical "A" axis direction). When the screen 90 is moved closer to the
concave mirror 20 side so as to implement a smaller screen sized
projection, and the focus is adjusted at the same time, the lens group
39c that is arranged closest to the aperture stop 39a among the lens
groups that have positive refractive power is moved reciprocally in the
Z-axis direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis direction), and the lens
group 39d that is arranged closest to the concave mirror 20 among the
lens groups that have negative refractive power is moved reciprocally in
the Z-axis direction (i.e., the optical "A" axis direction). Accordingly,
the lens group 39c and the lens group 39d move closer to the aperture
stop 39a. With this configuration, the pincushion distortion of the
intermediate image 17a may be suppressed, and the trapezoidal image
distortion of the image on the screen 90 may be suppressed.

[0077] Further, when the screen 90 is moved away from the concave mirror
20 so as to implement a larger screen sized projection, and the focus is
adjusted at the same time, contrary to the above case, the lens groups
39c and 39d may be moved in the Z-axis direction (i.e., the optical "A"
axis direction) such that the lens groups 39c and 39d move away from the
aperture stop 39a. Note that the amounts of movements of the lens groups
39c and 39d may be different. With this configuration, the pincushion
distortion of the intermediate image 17a may be suppressed, and the
trapezoidal image distortion of the image on the screen 90 may be
suppressed.

[0078] Further, the distortion may be converged by significantly moving
the lens group 39d, and the focal shift caused by excessive amount of
movement as a driving focus may be corrected by moving the lens group 39c
configured to generate less amount of distortion in the same direction as
the direction in which the lens group 39d is moved. That is, it may be
possible to significantly move the lens group 39d by arranging the lens
group 39c configured to generate less amount of distortion.

[0079] Note that if an extremely large distortion is generated by
increasing negative refractive power of the lens group 39d or by
significantly moving the lens group 39d, a significant amount of the
focus may need to be adjusted by utilizing other lens groups. In this
case, the focus adjustment may be implemented without generating
excessive distortion by moving the lens group 39c having weak negative
refractive power in the same direction as the direction in which the lens
group 39d is moved.

Fourth Embodiment

[0080] In a fourth embodiment, which is a modification of the first
embodiment, the lens group 19d in the first embodiment is configured to
include a glass lens 19d1 having strong negative refractive power and a
plastic lens 19d2 having weak positive refractive power arranged adjacent
to the glass lens 19d1 as illustrated in FIG. 21. Note that illustration
of components identical to those illustrated in the first, second or
third embodiment may be omitted from the third embodiment.

[0081] The lens having strong negative refractive power for generating
large distortion is highly sensitive to being affected by shape errors or
imposition error, so that degradation of resolution or the focal shift
for each screen position may easily occur in the lens having strong
negative refractive power. Specifically, since the temperature inside the
image projector is high, degradation of resolution or the focus change
due to the temperature change occurring, even in a component made of
glass having a small linear expansion coefficient, may not be overlooked.

[0082] Thus, it may be necessary to include a lens having positive
refractive power that cancels out the deterioration of resolution (i.e.,
degradation of the distortion) or a focus change occurring in the glass
lens having strong negative refractive power.

[0083] Further, in the image projector, the temperature distribution may
occur in the optical axis direction inside the lens tube that holds the
lenses. Hence, the temperature is high on the image forming element 17
side. Accordingly, the lens having positive refractive power are
preferably arranged at a position closer to the lens having negative
refractive power.

[0084] If the glass lens having positive refractive power with an absolute
value at the same level as the glass lens having negative refractive
power are arranged close, distortion change and the focus change due to
the temperature change of the lens having negative refractive power may
be cancelled out. However, if the lens having strong positive refractive
power is arranged adjacent to the lens having negative refractive power,
the refractive amount in each of the lenses is large, which undesirably
increases the sensitivity of the imposition error between the lens having
positive refractive power and the lens having negative refractive power.
Thus, it is undesirable to arrange the lens having strong positive
refractive power adjacent to the lens having negative refractive power.

[0085] In view of the aforementioned factors, the glass lens 19d1 having
strong negative refractive power is arranged adjacent to the plastic lens
19d2 having weak positive refractive power in the fourth embodiment. With
this configuration, it may be possible to lower the sensitivity of the
imposition error. In addition, since the linear expansion coefficient of
the plastic is approximately 10 times higher than that of the glass, the
distortion or the focus change occurring due to temperature change of the
glass lens 19d1, having strong negative refractive power, may be
cancelled out by the plastic lens 19d2.

[0086] Accordingly, the fourth embodiment may exhibit similar advantages
as those of the first embodiment; however, the fourth embodiment may
further exhibit the following advantages. That is, it may be possible to
lower the sensitivity of the imposition error by arranging the glass lens
19d1 having strong negative refractive power adjacent to the plastic lens
19d2 having weak positive refractive power. In addition, it may be
possible to cancel out the distortion or the focus change occurring due
to the temperature change of the glass lens 19d1 having strong negative
refractive power by the plastic lens 19d2.

[0087] According to the aforementioned embodiments, the optical projection
system capable of correcting distortion generated at focus adjustment and
the image projector having such an optical projection system may be
provided.

[0088] According to the aforementioned embodiments, the image projector
includes the image forming element configured to form an image based on
modulating signals, and the optical projection system configured to emit
light from a light source and project the image formed by the image
forming element as an enlarged image on the projection surface.

[0089] All examples and conditional language recited herein are intended
for pedagogical purposes to aid the reader in understanding the
principles of the invention and the concepts contributed by the inventor
to furthering the art, and are to be construed as being without
limitation to such specifically recited examples and conditions, nor does
the organization of such examples in the specification relate to a
showing of the superiority or inferiority of the invention. Although the
embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail, it
should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations
could be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention.

[0090] This patent application is based on Japanese Priority Patent
Application No. 2010-282684 filed on Dec. 20, 2010, the entire contents
of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.